ART: Barkley Hendricks

I've always been drawn to the work of artist Barkley Hendricks. When I see his work, I can see that he has inspired so many new artists today; such as Kehinde Wiley. Hendricks' work is such a vibrant celebration of black people.
I think the main reasons I love his art is because of the way his canvases exude ‘Cool’. When I look at his depictions of black men in particular, the subjects always have a confidence and ‘Shaft-like’ prowess; and their ‘coolness’ always make me feel proud as a black male viewer. His images of black women are equally remarkable: the way he celebrates her form, beauty, and even her natural hair. So I’d like to take a moment to celebrate the work of this amazing artist; who I like to refer to as a ‘Grandaddy of Cool’. Enjoy!